oddsnark | Snarks On Ice: The NHL Roundup

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Snarks On Ice: The NHL Roundup

By oddJoe ⋅ January 28, 2006 ⋅ Post a comment

Wild 3, Blue Jackets 4
In the penalty box: that topsy turvy, upsidedown world in which Minnesota is good and wins consistently, at least for now.

Devils 0, Panthers 4
In the penalty box: New Jersey management, for signing Martin Brodeur to a $31 million, six-year contract extension just hours before he allows four goals from the Florida Panthers. Actually, more time goes to New Jersey’s shooters, who have failed to score a goal in two games.

On Tap Tonight
Lightning (26-20-4) at Flyers (30-12-8) 2:00 PM EST
Red Wings (33-13-4) at Stars (33-15-2) 2:00 PM EST
Penguins (12-29-10) at Rangers (28-15-7) 2:00 PM EST
Mighty Ducks (22-17-10) at Kings (30-20-3) 4:00 PM EST
Islanders (21-25-3) at Bruins (21-21-8) 7:00 PM EST
Canadiens (22-20-6) at Maple Leafs (24-22-3) 7:00 PM EST
Thrashers (23-22-6) at Hurricanes (35-11-4) 7:00 PM EST
Predators (31-13-6) at Blue Jackets (19-30-2) 7:00 PM EST
Sharks (23-18-6) at Coyotes (25-24-2) 9:00 PM EST
Canucks (28-18-5) at Avalanche (28-19-4) 10:00 PM EST

oddJoe’s hockey picks
There’s a pretty strong slate of games on NBC today, and football’s on hiatus for the week, so you have no excuses not to watch. Depending on your region, you’ll get Tampa at Philly, Detroit at Dallas, or Pittsburgh at Rangers. Now, on to the picks.

You might not necessarily think any match-up with Tampa would be very interesting, but the Flyers are 0-6 against the Lighting over the past three years. Tampa has started to turn it back on, winning five of their last seven, while Philly has been down in the dumps, losing five of their last seven. Plus, the Flyers are going without star forward Peter Forsberg for the first time. This will be a hard one for a banged up Philadelphia team to win. Best line: Tampa +115 at Oasis.

You have to love it when the sporting fates smile and grant us a match between division leaders on network television. Detroit is quickly trying to run away with the Western Conference but stumbled earlier this week with back-to-back losses to Nashville. Still, Hockeytown is riding high with five wins in their last seven games. Dallas, meanwhile, has won three straight and nine of their last 12, and a win today would put them in a tie with Detroit and possibly Nashville at the top of the conference standings. This should be a good one, but I think Detroit rights the ship today and comes out on top. Best line: Detroit +100 at BetCRIS.